Alteryx Analytics Happiness and Attitudes Report - Analytics10

The AHA Report
A report exploring the overall outlook on data
and digital transformation across the globe.
A N A LYT I CS
H A PPI N E S S
A N D
AT T I TU D E S
R E P O RT
2020

2020 AHA Report 2
Across the globe, people want to do
more with data. When they do, the
magic happens. When they can’t,
they’re sad and frustrated.
Survey says:
Analytics are

2020 AHA Report 3
surveyed
we

3,028 business and data
analysts, data scientists,
and leaders

2020 AHA Report 4
countries in Europe,
the Middle East, Africa,
and Asia Pacific.
digitally-
advanced
Across six
of the most
51.1657° N, 10.4515° E
46.2276° N, 2.2137° E
23.4241° N, 53.8478° E
55.3781° N, -3.4360° E
1.3521° N, 103.8198° E
36.2048° N, 138.2529° E

2020 AHA Report 5
But what wave are they riding?
Each country or region
is riding the wave of

2020 AHA Report 6
transformation
data-
driven
Some respondents
are living a

2020 AHA Report 7
transformation
While others are leading
a technology or

So, who’s journey is the most
apt in succeeding in a digital
transformation?
Want to see just a slice of this report?
Check out results by country:
France
46.2276° N, 2.2137° E
Germany
51.1657° N, 10.4515° E
UAE
23.4241° N, 53.8478° E
UK
55.3781° N, -3.4360° E
Singapore
1.3521° N, 103.8198° E
Japan
36.2048° N, 138.2529° E
2020 AHA Report 8
The answer:
and none.all

The Benefits of Embracing Analytics
Personal Benefits
Biggest Data Challenges
Analytics Journey
Top Data Skills
The Reality of Data
Key Challenges
Top Tech Enablers
Biggest Game Changers
Conclusion
0 1
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
2020 AHA Report 9
Different countries are
focusing on different paths
to get to the same place.
Let’s
Look

2020 AHA Report 10
B E N E F I T S O F
E M B R AC I N G
A N A LYT I CS
01

2020 AHA Report / Benefits of Embracing Analytics 11
Here’s what we
know: Analytics is
showing up in a

But what does that look like for
people who are doing their jobs
every day across countries?
Respondents reported these
top three benefits after
embracing analytics.

Ability to create savings and efficiencies for
my department/organisation
Contribution toward changing the culture
of the company with data-based evidence
Empowerment to solve harder problems
France
46.2276° N, 2.2137° E

Enabled a better focus on strategic aims by
identifying key information in data
Gained better insight into customers,
partners, clients, students, etc.
Empowerment to solve harder problems
Germany
51.1657° N, 10.4515° E

Improved work/life balance
Improved employee satisfaction
Increased productivity
UAE
23.4241° N, 53.8478° E

Gained better insight into customers,
partners, clients, students, etc.
Ability to create savings and efficiencies
for my department/organisation
UK
55.3781° N, -3.4360° E

Provided more value to deliver deeper insights
Gained better insight into customers, partners,
clients, students, etc.
Singapore
1.3521° N, 103.8198° E

Enabled a better focus on strategic aims by
identifying key information in data
Gained better insight and empowerment to
solve harder problems
Japan
36.2048° N, 138.2529° E

deeper
into their data, which is
all about delivering more
precise and relevant results
From the results, we learned that
respondents in France and Germany
are feeling empowered to

After all, descriptive analysis may
describe the past, but it’s not the
crystal ball into the future.
The shared empowerment among France
and Germany is aligned with Gartner’s
recommendations, too.
Gartner advocates developing
a comprehensive analytic environment
that spans from traditional descriptive
reporting (answering “What happened?”)
to prescriptive analytics (answering
“What should we do next?”).
What
happened?
Descriptive
Analytics
Why did it
happen?
Diagnostic
Analytics
What will
happen?
Predictive
Analytics
How can we
make it happen?
Prescriptive
Analytics
DIFFICULTY
VALUE
H I N D S I G H T
I N F O R M AT I O N O PT I M I Z AT I O N
I N S I G H T F O R E S I G H T

Meanwhile, respondents in the
UK, UAE, Singapore, and Japan
all cited an increase in
as a top benefit of
embracing analytics.
productivi

This comes as no surprise as a recent survey
by global market intelligence firm IDC
indicates that data discovery is important at
most companies — as many as half the survey
respondents say data is:
hard to
locate
and unreli@bl#

In fact, here’s what one data
professional had to say:
In other words, respondents using self-
service analytics are spending less time
chasing data down and more time using it
to create business-changing insights.
Thanks to matured, tested, and ever-improving
self-service tools available to data workers
today, we are in the golden age of data
democratization.
Nick Haylund, Director, Tessellation

2020 AHA Report 24
PE R S O N A L
B E N E F I T S O F
E M B R AC I N G
A N A LYT I CS
02

What we also know is that benefits
surpass organizational wins alone.
Turns out, it can be a
sweet
deal
2020 AHA Report / Personal Benefits of Embracing Analytics 25
Here are the top three ways people
were recognized professionally as a
result of embracing analytics.
for your personal career, too.

Increased or additional responsibilities
Received a promotion or pay increase
Recognised as a problem solver/data disruptor
France
46.2276° N, 2.2137° E

Became a mentor/trainer
Recognised as someone who is helping drive
toward establishing a data-driven culture
Germany
51.1657° N, 10.4515° E

Received an industry or external award
Received an internal award
UAE
23.4241° N, 53.8478° E

Received a promotion or pay increase
UK
55.3781° N, -3.4360° E

Recognised as someone who is helping drive
toward establishing a data-driven culture
Singapore
1.3521° N, 103.8198° E

Received a team to manage
Japan
36.2048° N, 138.2529° E

data science
and analytics
Across all six regions,
those who embraced
expanded the scope of
their roles.
2020 AHA Report

332020 AHA Report / Personal Benefits of Embracing Analytics
Analysts have four
major responsibilities,
but often get
prepping process and thus
are unable to carve out
time for the more strategic
aspects of the job function.

Here’s what bringing the
full career of an analyst into
fruition might look like:
342020 AHA Report / Personal Benefits of Embracing Analytics
In order to get those questions answered, you need to find and then
prepare the right data across disparate systems throughout, and even
outside, the business before joining it all together for analysis.
Wrangle
massive
data sets
01

Partner with
stakeholders
across the
business
02
You interact with stakeholders and teams across the company to
find out their needs and formulate a vision for how to use data to
help them meet their goals.

Hunt for
meaningful
patterns and
insights
Once you have clean data, it’s time to uncover any
patterns hidden within it and use the insights you
glean to formulate recommendations.
03

Report on
findings
and results
If an analyst has a light-bulb moment but doesn’t share it with the
business, did it happen at all? It’s not enough to uncover data gems;
you also need to communicate them.
This includes interpreting data relationships and succinctly
presenting findings, often using dashboards and data visualizations
to help. If you’re really good, you’ll take findings a step further and
give actionable recommendations on next steps.
04

and the chance to meet new people
in your organization. Respondents in
France and the UK even reported a
promotion or pay increase.
Talk about career

Despite these significant
wins, there are still
challenges to opening
After all...

Professionaly trained data scientists are in short
supply, yet the pressure for workers at every level
in the organization to make faster, better, more
informed decisions is accelerating.
Alan Jacobson, Chief Data and Analytics Officer at Alteryx

2020 AHA Report 41
B I G G E S T DATA
C H A L L E N G E S /
F R U ST R AT I O N S
03

2020 AHA Report / Biggest Data Challenges/Frustrations 42
Here are the top three
biggest data
and frustrations reported.

Too much time spent searching for the right data,
data sources, and information assets to use
Struggle to make analytics operational or fully
deployable without manual interventions
Too many disparate data sources
France
46.2276° N, 2.2137° E

Data security, privacy, and governance issues
Inability to get the specific combination of data
sources and types I need
Germany
51.1657° N, 10.4515° E

The data is incomplete or has a lot of errors and
inconsistencies in it
Access to the right analytic tools to fit the data need
UAE
23.4241° N, 53.8478° E

Lack of understanding of data science and
analytics concepts
UK
55.3781° N, -3.4360° E

Shortage of trained data workers
Singapore
1.3521° N, 103.8198° E

Shortage of trained data workers
Struggle to make analytics operational or fully
deployable without manual interventions
Japan
36.2048° N, 138.2529° E

All but the respondents in the
UAE reported that spending too
much time locating the right
data.data.data.data.data.da
data.data.data.data.data.da
ta.data.data.data.data.data
ta.data.data.data.data.data
was a top concern in their
analytics process.

However, respondents in the UAE
did report that one of their major
frustrations was data with a lot of
and inconsistencies in it.
Close second? We think so.

Today, when most analysts undertake
a project, they face two hair-raising
challenges. The first is to find the data they
need, and the second is to make that data
once they’ve found it.

To hunt down
the appropriate
data
and rely on word of mouth. While it can be oh-so-satisfying
to solve the mystery and finally locate what you need,
the search is very time-consuming and oh-so-frustrating —
especially when you’re up against an urgent deadline.
analysts
must play detective

r a n g e o f s y n t a x e s ,
l a n g u a g e s , a n d
B i g D a t a e x p e r t i s e
Moreover, as the number of potential
data sources proliferates, so does the
that analysts need to access the data that they store.
But since no analyst has the time to master all of these,
you’re forced to rely on your organization’s IT specialists
or data scientists who already possess the requisite skills.

A recent survey by global market intelligence firm IDC finds that even though data discovery is
viewed as an important function at most companies, as many as half of the survey respondents
acknowledged that the information gleaned through their discovery process is hard to locate,
incomplete, and unreliable.
Do you have too many data sources? Trouble finding the right one? Here’s a way to combine
any file — spreadsheets, social, websites, databases — you name it.
Read Survey
Learn How

2020 AHA Report 55
T H E
A N A LYT I CS
J O U R N E Y
04

2020 AHA Report / The Analytics Journey 56
What we know about data
and analytics is that it is
indeed a journey, an
a process...
Here’s where respondents placed
their company on the spectrum
of analytics maturity.

UAE
23.4241° N, 53.8478° E
Germany
51.1657° N, 10.4515° E
04% Data is our new currency
27% Advanced stages
27% Mature stages
22% Early stages
17% Initial stages
04% Data what?
06% Advanced stages
13% Mature stages
09% Early stages
25% Initial stages
43% Data what?
20% Advanced stages
36% Mature stages
31% Early stages
11% Initial stages
France
46.2276° N, 2.2137° E
Analytics
Maturity

Japan
36.2048° N, 138.2529° E
Singapore
1.3521° N, 103.8198° E
17% Advanced stages
35% Mature stages
29% Early stages
12% Initial stages
05% Data what?
18% Advanced stages
29% Mature stages
28% Early stages
13% Initial stages
06% Data what?
05% Advanced stages
09% Mature stages
17% Early stages
26% Initial stages
30% Data what?
04% Other
UK
55.3781° N, -3.4360° E
Analytics
Maturity

The phrase “data is
the new oil” is quickly
becoming cliché.
is the lifeblood of the modern-day
enterprise transformation strategy.
But working with data, big and
small, isn’t as easy as it’s cracked up
to be without guidance.

2020 AHA Report 60
TO P DATA
S K I L L S TO
I M P R OVE
05

While hardly any respondents
reported advanced stages in their
analytic maturity, many are
612020 AHA Report / Top Data Skills to Improve
moving
along their
so much so that respondents are
sharpening their data skills in 2020.
Here are the top data skills people
want to improve to help advance
their analytics careers.
journey
with
hope

2020 AHA Report / Top Data Skills to Improve 62
Organising and manipulating large amounts of data
Model management (managing versions, deployment,
and execution of analytical models)
Machine learning and artificial intelligence
France
46.2276° N, 2.2137° E

Read Whitepaper
In the age of Big Data, you
need technology and processes
that can grow with your ever-
expanding datasets.Large
amounts
of data

Using databases, SQL, or Structured-Query-Language-
based analysis
R, Python, Apache, Spark, and Hadoop statistical
programming analytics
Data prep and blending (adding data from external
sources, joining data tables, merging data files, etc.)
Germany
51.1657° N, 10.4515° E

Code -free, self-service analysis (the use of pre-
configured statistical and predictive models, as well as
visualytics, to see your results along the way)
Model management (managing versions, deployment,
and execution of analytical models)
Data cleansing
UAE
23.4241° N, 53.8478° E

Read Whitepaper
Managing data, ensuring quality, easily finding
the most relevant information assets, and making
decisions based on a shared understanding of how
business works has never been more essential.
Ask France or the UAE, as respondents
reported a desire to focus on model
management as a top priority.
Model
management

Code-free, self-service analysis
R, Python, Apache, Spark, and Hadoop
statistical programming analytics
Predictive analytics and modelling
UK
55.3781° N, -3.4360° E

Read Whitepaper
Big Data, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and
predictive and prescriptive analytics are all the buzz.
Everyone’s talking about the incredible potential of
these technologies.
Let’s check out the results
in Singapore and Japan.
Predictive
analytics

Machine learning and artificial intelligence
Predictive analytics and modelling
Singapore
1.3521° N, 103.8198° E
36.2048° N, 138.2529° E
Japan

2020 AHA Report 70
T H E
R E A L I TY
O F DATA
06

With all the resolutions to do more
with data, we were curious to see
how people really felt about data.
2020 AHA Report / The Reality of Data 71

The following percentages represent which
respondents strongly agreed or somewhat
agreed that data was indeed at the heart of
their business as a critical corporate asset.
76% France
82% UAE 40% Japan
87% Germany 80% Singapore
73% UK
46.2276° N, 2.2137° E
23.4241° N, 53.8478° E 36.2048° N, 138.2529° E
51.1657° N, 10.4515° E 1.3521° N, 103.8198° E
55.3781° N, -3.4360° E

at the center of one’s
organizational universe,
we needed to know
whether it did much
in the way of general
business operations.
data
And even with such a
declaration or hesitation
to pronounce

Sentiment varied across regions on whether analytics
has enabled respondents to personalise their offerings
based on previous interactions and behaviours.
Still, there was room to dig deeper. Beyond day-to-day
frustrations and wins, where did people ultimately land
on whether data unleashed new ideas and progress?
71% France
81% UAE 32% Japan
72% UK
46.2276° N, 2.2137° E
23.4241° N, 53.8478° E 36.2048° N, 138.2529° E
51.1657° N, 10.4515° E 1.3521° N, 103.8198° E
55.3781° N, -3.4360° E

We asked how much respondents agreed with the
following statement: “Data and analytics have helped fuel
our productivity, growth and innovation.” The results
reflect those who strongly or somewhat agreed.
71% France
75% UAE 23% Japan
76% UK
46.2276° N, 2.2137° E
23.4241° N, 53.8478° E 36.2048° N, 138.2529° E
51.1657° N, 10.4515° E 1.3521° N, 103.8198° E
55.3781° N, -3.4360° E

We wondered what was
holding people back from
of data from
the rooftops.

To deliver digital transformation, you need to
leverage the pillars of technology, culture, and the
mission.
Alan Jacobson, Chief Data and Analytics Officer at Alteryx
The pressure to harness data in new ways along with the
increased emphasis on digital transformation is causing
a tremendous amount of strain on organisations.

2020 AHA Report 78
K E Y
C H A L L E N G E S
07

2020 AHA Report / Key Challenges 79
Let’s look at some of the key challenges
reported by our respondents across
regions. Top three overall concerns:
Data Security
Talent Shortage
Technology Constraints
01
02
03

As far as the talent shortage is concerned, it’s true. This shortage is
becoming an immense problem as more companies recognise the value of
data and analytics in making informed business decisions.
Read Blog
In a recent Forrester survey , 90% of global data and analytics decision
makers indicated that the use of data insights in business decision-making
would be a priority for their firm over the next 12 months.
Check Out Survey
Data security gives teams the freedom to explore and safeguard data quality
while also providing transparency and auditability within analytic applications.
They know they need a strategy that can scale out across the organization
in a production-ready environment — without creating havoc.
Watch Strategy

to data-driven decision-
making, but they lack the
talent and tools to do so.
It’s clear that
businesses want to
from
gut-driven

Moreover, technology
constraints can be a real
Regardless of data source, people
are looking for a solution that can
still service users in the systems and
technologies they already depend on.

A unified analytics platform that accesses, preps,
and blends data from whatever sources you use,
then outputs results directly to the systems you
depend on for consumption
could be just the ticket.

2020 AHA Report 84
TO P
T E C H N O L O G Y
E N A B L E R S
08

2020 AHA Report / Top Technology Enablers 85
Data has become part of the mainstream with
operational professionals from all jobs/industries
realizing that it’s not just the DBA who cares;
it’s essential for everyone. Simultaneously, the
tech has become easier, which really helps to
bring this to the masses.
Sean Adams, Senior VP/Executive
Director and Alteryx ACE
Still, the hope for data and
analytics to deliver is alive.
Here are the top technology
enablers that were reported as
having the greatest impact on
businesses today.

Data and analytics
Open-source programming languages such
as R, Python, etc.
Cloud
France
46.2276° N, 2.2137° E

Artificial intelligence and machine learning
Data and analytics
Focus on employee skills and culture to drive
transformation
Germany
51.1657° N, 10.4515° E

IoT and Big Data
Data and analytics
Cloud
UAE
23.4241° N, 53.8478° E

Data and analytics
Cloud
Focus on employee skills and culture to
drive transformation
UK
55.3781° N, -3.4360° E

Data and analytics
Cloud
Artificial intelligence and machine learning
Singapore
1.3521° N, 103.8198° E

Focus on employee skills and culture to drive
transformation
Cloud
Data and analytics
Japan
36.2048° N, 138.2529° E

Top Three Overall
Technology Enablers
Data and Analytics, Cloud
Focus on Employee Skills
Culture to Drive Transformation
01
02
03

Looks like around the world, people
are not giving up despite their
Instead they’re identifying
real solutions.

To see the most success, it turns out you need to be
focused on the network effect of data, people, and
technologies in order to thrive on the analytic
battleground, avoid common
and get to digital
transformation
much quicker.

But is that enough?
Those focused on...
Understand that it can help their business make
smarter decisions, optimise operations, and
pinpoint new revenue opportunities.
See the different roles data plays and how to train up
their best people to fully unlock data to drive true,
digital transformation.
Capitalise on it to create a sustainable cycle
of analytic innovation that drives digital
transformation.
Data
People
Technology

2020 AHA Report 96
B I G G E S T
G A M E
C H A N G E R S
O F T H E F U TU R E
09

2020 AHA Report / Biggest Game-Changers of the Future 97
Here’s what respondents anticipate
will be the biggest game changers for
their data analytics success within the

Collaborative analytics
A culture of data and analytics
Explainable AI
France
46.2276° N, 2.2137° E

Augmented machine learning
Deep learning/machine learning
Repeatable, shareable workflows
Germany
51.1657° N, 10.4515° E

Self-service analytics
Explainable AI
UAE
23.4241° N, 53.8478° E

Code-free/code-friendly analytics (modelling
without code using intuitive drag-and-drop tools)
Self-service analytics
UK
55.3781° N, -3.4360° E

Explainable AI
Collaborative analytics
Singapore
1.3521° N, 103.8198° E

Explainable AI
Japan
36.2048° N, 138.2529° E

Deep Learning/Machine Learning
Explainable AI
A Culture of Data and Analytics
01
02
03
Top Three Game-Changers
for Data Analytics Success

A study released by the World Economic Forum shows that data-
related jobs will be the most in demand within the next four to
five years, along with AI and machine learning specialists.
The job categories that will be the most in demand include data
analysts and data scientists; AI and machine learning
specialists; software and applications developers and analysts;
and Big Data specialists, although it’s likely these people will
have other titles in the coming years.
Get The Study

Bottom line: With
over 54 million data
workers worldwide,
the era
of digital
transformation
has already begun.

But which wave?
As we’ve identified here.
All of them.
We’re clearly in the middle of a revolution.
Ride the wave.
Andrew Bittermann, Sr. Director Analytics Solutions
Development and Strategic Alliances at Onebridge

2020 AHA Report 108
T H E A H A
M O M E N T
10

As data volumes continue to grow, the time
is now for organizations to implement
strategies that emphasize the value of
data, culture, and
technology to guide
the way to successful
digitization.
Get started wherever you are.
After all, the fun is in the journey.
Speaking of routes...
2020 AHA Report 109

Lead
The Way
2020 AHA Report 110
Why an advanced analytics
platform is key to your
company’s success.
Build on your existing
analytics know-how with
the skills you already have.
Status quo, you’re toast.
Get ahead of the trends and
become an analytics champ.
Transform from grunt to
guru with five easy steps.
Conquer them
like a hero.
Futureproof
Your Analytics
Strategy
Take Analytics
to the Next
Level
Five of Analytics
Best Kept
Secrets
The No-Sweat
Guide to Advanced
Analytics Success
Four Great
Expectations
and Analysts
Strategise Build Skills Get Ahead Read Now Take Action

2020 AHA Report 111
About
The Digital
Transformation
Survey
The Alteryx Digital Transformation research was conducted by Censuswide
with an overall sample of 3,028 decision makers in six markets: UK, France,
Germany, UAE, Japan, and Singapore between March 7, 2019 and June 7,
2019.

2020 AHA Report
Revolutionizing business through data science and analytics, Alteryx offers an end-to-end analytics
platform that empowers data analysts and scientists alike to break data barriers, deliver insights, and
experience the thrill of getting to the answer faster.
Organizations all over the world rely on Alteryx daily to deliver actionable insights. For more information
visit alteryx.com. Alteryx is a registered trademark of Alteryx, Inc. All other product and brand names may
be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
About
Alteryx
Get Started Today

Alteryx Analytics Happiness and Attitudes Report - Analytics10

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